by Katie Reus
Rhea raced out, a big smile on her face as she practically launched herself at Greer, pulling her into a hug. “I’ve missed you!”
Laughing at the welcome, Greer hugged the smaller wolf shifter, holding her tight. Unexpected tears stung her eyes as she released her friend. She might be leaving but this would always be a place she could return to if they decided. These were her people.
“Don’t cry.” Reaper sounded panicked as he gave the order.
Laughing, she dashed away the wetness on her cheeks. “It’s fine. I’m just happy. And…you have news.” She eyed Rhea carefully, unsure if the Alpha female had told anyone.
Rhea blinked, then her cheeks flushed. “We literally just found out. We haven’t told anyone,” she whispered.
“Then I won’t either, but congratulations.” Greer kept her tone just as low, as she could hear and scent many others inside. Rhea being pregnant was huge news, but news they would definitely need to share on their own. And no matter what, Greer would return when her friend gave birth. No way would she miss something like that.
“Thank you. So…you’re not back for good, are you?” Rhea looked between the two of them, only frowning a little bit as she eyed Reaper. “I guess I can’t get too mad that you’re stealing her away since my clan stole me from my pack.”
Reaper simply wrapped his arm around Greer’s shoulders and they headed inside.
Greer was pleasantly surprised to find not only Conall in the living room, but Keelin and her mate Bran. Then there was August, Prima, Mira, Finn, Lyra, Vega and Gabriel. And a couple shifters she didn’t recognize. “What’s all this?”
Conall had already risen to greet her and pulled her into a hug. “They just returned from South America. We were simply talking about the state of the world.”
After hugging those she knew and introducing her new mate to everyone, she found herself pulled into Reaper’s lap as he sat on an uncomfortable high-backed chair Conall seriously needed to get rid of.
“So you made it out of South America.” Greer looked at Mira and August, who were sitting very close to each other. She couldn’t scent the mating bond between the two of them but something had definitely happened between those two. And she would get answers later. She was a nosy dragon after all.
“That is a story for another day,” Prima said, looking at August and Mira.
“We’ve heard about all that you guys have done for New Orleans,” Vega said, speaking up. “Soon we’ll be headed back to Biloxi, where we’re going to stay put for a while.” She reached out and linked her fingers with Gabriel, her mate.
“I hope we get to see more of each other, then,” Greer said. Biloxi was not a far flight from New Orleans.
“Count on it.”
Greer leaned back, listening to the others talk, and realized that the world was in good hands. At least Cale had not been involved with Damari’s treachery—and Damari had not been involved in the killings of ancients. Not directly anyway. Supernatural hackers had ferreted out that the Zmey clan had been behind all of that, targeting strong ancients they thought would be a threat to them. They’d spent decades planning everything. Soon their supernatural strongholds would fall, Greer knew. There weren’t many, and the world was beyond angry at what they’d done. Supernaturals everywhere were united in the desire to destroy them. When she heard Prima say she would be returning to New Orleans with them, Greer wondered if it had anything to do with Arthur, but she certainly wouldn’t be asking the ancient female. As she listened to her clan speak, she also discovered that Alma had left, at least temporarily, to be with two Alpha wolves in another territory. Something Greer found interesting—and would be following up on. When she heard that Judoc—an Alpha wolf—had survived, along with his whole pack, she was glad. It seemed many supernaturals had worked together to help each other and humans alike.
She was surprised when barely ten minutes later Conall motioned for her and Reaper to follow him. In that moment she almost felt like a dragonling being summoned to her Alpha’s office.
“You’ve come to tell me you’re staying in New Orleans,” Conall said as he shut the door behind them.
“For now, we are. The two of us are needed in New Orleans, and King is a good male.”
Conall snorted. “He’s young and arrogant.”
“Well, he’s young compared to you,” she said. “And I think arrogance is probably a necessary quality for an Alpha. Or at least confidence.”
Her Alpha smiled, then looked at Reaper, his expression hardening. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“If you expect me to apologize for claiming my mate, you are delusional.”
Conall barked out a laugh. “A perfect answer.” Then his dragon flashed in his eyes, sharp and deadly. “You better take care of her.”
“We will take care of each other.” Reaper squeezed her hand once.
“Okay, then.”
“Will you guys be okay with one healer, truly?” Greer asked, going to sit on one of the chairs in front of Conall’s desk.
“We will be more than fine. This area was not hit hard and we are keeping all communication open with allies. We’re not far from Keelin and Bran’s clan either. Relatively speaking. And apparently August has had a plan in place for a long time in case anything should ever happen.”
“He has?”
Conall nodded. “Apparently. He said he would rather be prepared than be sorry.”
She would expect nothing less from a black ops operative. Still, it was impressive. “Wow. Okay, then… I’m going to miss you guys but I’ll be available by phone or we can fly here if needed. Or Nyx can bring us.”
“Don’t worry about that now. Just know you’ll always have a home here. You’ll always be one of mine. Always.” Conall turned to Reaper then, held out a hand. “So will you.”
Reaper grasped Conall’s hand tightly. “Thank you.”
Damn it. Tears spilled over now, freely and unabashedly. She was going to miss her clan so much but she was excited about starting a life with Reaper.
“Take a moment with your mate.” Conall moved to the door as she wiped her tears away. “Because we have a little going-away party planned for you tonight. Right now, the clan needs a reason to celebrate so don’t say no. They all want to say goodbye properly. I’m including myself in that. It’ll be held at Victoria’s place, six o’clock sharp.”
She could be mistaken but she was pretty sure there were tears in his eyes too.
“My sweet mate,” Reaper murmured as he pulled her into his arms. “I do not like these tears.”
She sniffled against his shirt. “I’m going to miss my clan.”
“They will always be your people.”
“I know. Still.”
“We will stay, then.” Now he full-on growled.
Surprised, she pulled back and cupped his cheek. “No. I’m simply sad, but it changes nothing. I’m excited to start a new adventure with you.”
“As I with you.” His eyes flickered to his dragon for a brief moment. “Do you think we could sneak out the window in here and head to your house? It should be empty, yes?”
She blinked as laughter bubbled up inside her, eating away the melancholy threatening to undo her. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Either that or I’m going to make you come right here on this desk.”
“You’re serious.”
“I will never joke about making you come.” His tone was deadly serious.
Laughing even harder, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. There was so much uncertainty in the world right now and a lot of grieving, but she sensed a desperation from every supernatural and human alike to hope.
Hope for a new future, hope for better.
She was filled with it too, so much it was bursting out of her, and right now she was going to take every single moment of joy she could with her mate. With her Reaper. “Let’s sneak out the window, then.”
Her clanmates would definitely understand.
&nb
sp; Mates came first. Always.
Dear Readers,
I know some of you are asking…is that it? And the answer is, yes and no. Darkness Rising is the end of the Darkness series but NOT the end of this particular world. Since things shifted so dramatically at the end of this book, I decided it was time to do a spinoff that will start right where this one ends. You’re going to see new characters and more of the same characters very soon. So this is not goodbye, just “see you later”.
I’d also like to say a great big thank you to all my wonderful readers who have been with me since the launch of this series. It has been a wild ride and my pleasure to bring these characters to life. I hope you’ve enjoyed every second of this series! Saying goodbye to a series is always difficult, but thankfully it’s not as hard this time because I know there is more to come.
If you’d like to stay in touch with me and be the first to learn about new releases you can:
• Sign up for my monthly newsletter at: www.katiereus.com
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Also, please consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books.
Happy reading,
Katie
Acknowledgments
Whew! This has been a wild ride and I owe a lot of thanks to some incredible people. Kaylea Cross, I’m so grateful for all your insight and for our plotting trip to New Orleans. Julia, thank you for your edits and insight. Sarah, thank you for all the behind-the-scenes work you do in general and on this book in particular. Jaycee, I’m grateful for another beautiful cover. For my wonderful, wonderful readers, thank you for joining me on this journey. To my family, thank you for keeping me sane. And of course, I’m grateful to God.
About the Author
Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Darkness series and the Redemption Harbor series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.
However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please visit her website: https://katiereus.com and join her newsletter.
Complete Booklist
Endgame Trilogy
Bishop’s Knight
Bishop’s Queen
Bishop’s Endgame
Red Stone Security Series
No One to Trust
Danger Next Door
Fatal Deception
Miami, Mistletoe & Murder
His to Protect
Breaking Her Rules
Protecting His Witness
Sinful Seduction
Under His Protection
Deadly Fallout
Sworn to Protect
Secret Obsession
Love Thy Enemy
Dangerous Protector
Lethal Game
Redemption Harbor Series
Resurrection
Savage Rising
Dangerous Witness
Innocent Target
Hunting Danger
Covert Games
Chasing Vengeance
Deadly Ops Series
Targeted
Bound to Danger
Chasing Danger (novella)
Shattered Duty
Edge of Danger
A Covert Affair
Sin City Series (the Serafina)
First Surrender
Sensual Surrender
Sweetest Surrender
Dangerous Surrender
O’Connor Family Series
Merry Christmas, Baby
Tease Me, Baby
It’s Me Again, Baby
Mistletoe Me, Baby
Non-series Romantic Suspense
Running from the Past
Dangerous Secrets
Killer Secrets
Deadly Obsession
Danger in Paradise
His Secret Past
Linked Books
Retribution
Tempting Danger
Paranormal Romance
Destined Mate
Protector’s Mate
A Jaguar’s Kiss
Tempting the Jaguar
Enemy Mine
Heart of the Jaguar
Moon Shifter Series
Alpha Instinct
Lover’s Instinct
Primal Possession
Mating Instinct
His Untamed Desire
Avenger’s Heat
Hunter Reborn
Protective Instinct
Dark Protector
A Mate for Christmas
Darkness Series
Darkness Awakened
Taste of Darkness
Beyond the Darkness
Hunted by Darkness
Into the Darkness
Saved by Darkness
Guardian of Darkness
Sentinel of Darkness
A Very Dragon Christmas
Darkness Rising